Symbiosis combining large scale solar heating, gas fuelled CHP and absorption heat pump. The large-scale solar heating is booming these years. The world record for plants is doubled every year: Marstal 20.000 m2 in 2013, Chile 39.000 m2 in 2014, Vojens 70.000 m2 in 2015 and now Silkeborg 156.000 m2 in 2016. Who is next ? Silkeborg municipal-owned district heating company in Denmark, supplies most of the city Silkeborg with heat. The 400 GWh annual heat production has for 20 years been provided with a gas fuelled CC plant and gas boilers. Due to lower electricity prices, this production has been less cost effective recent years. Therefore the company and the city looked for better solutions. Various more green solutions, including combining the existing system with solar heat and biomass. A result of detailed feasibility studies was to use the symbiosis of combining large-scale solar water heating and a more efficient gas CC plant by sharing a new absorption heat pump and larger heat storages.
State of Green (accessed) 22nd June 2018 read more »
Located at Swansea University’s Bay Campus, the Active Office will be manufactured using cutting edge off-site manufacturing techniques and incorporate a range of innovative technologies to generate, store and release solar energy. Virtu has been integrated in to the vertical South facing facade to optimise winter yield for space heating, whilst simultaneously producing electricity. Virtu utilises vacuum technology to improve thermal performance throughout the yield and is especially effective in temperate climates like the UK. This project represents the first public project for the company. The building will be linked to, and able to share energy with, the Active Classroom. The UK’s first energy positive classroom was completed in autumn 2016 and has been operating for a year. Together the solar-powered buildings provide functional teaching and office spaces, as well as building-scale development facilities for SPECIFIC Innovation & Knowledge Centre and its industry partners.
Naked Energy 19th June 2018 read more »
The first energy-positive office to be constructed in the UK, which generates more solar energy than it consumes, is set to open at Swansea University. The Active Office combines a range of innovative technologies that will enable it to generate, store and release solar energy in one integrated system, including: A curved roof with integrated solar cells – showing the flexible nature of the laminated photovoltaic panel. A Photovoltaic Thermal system on the south facing wall – which is capable of generating both heat and electricity from the sun in one system. Lithium ion batteries to store the electricity generated and a 2,000-litre water tank to store solar heat.
BQ Live 22nd June 2018 read more »
